Disclaimer: Harry Potter and company belongs to JK Rowling. No money was made while writing this fic.
Summary: Set after the first trip to Sturgis. The men return home and try to settle back into the rest of the summer vacation and Max and Sev are… well… Max and Sev.
Warnings: Asinine behaviour, Indecent Exposure, Frogging, Language, Minor Violence, Vomiting
Rant and Roar
Max woke up slowly to one of Grant’s adopted strays licking his stubbled cheek. Groaning, he opened one bleary eye and realized he was asleep under the picnic table in the Wolffe’s backyard. He shook his head carefully as he pulled himself out from under the damn thing and made it to his feet. Where the hell did everyone go? The last thing the big red head could remember was drinking shots with Sev and listening to CCR.
Rubbing a hand over his face, he stumbled up the back steps and into the kitchen to get a drink of water. He could swear that the damn dog had crapped in his mouth. He turned the cold water tap on and stuck his head under it for a few minutes to clear his senses before hearing the grandfather clock in the living room chime one…in the afternoon. Damn.
Grabbing one of Grant’s kitchen towels, Max made his way through the swinging doors and found Damon stretched out on the sofa snoring lightly. “Old fucker,” he muttered fondly as he stuck his head in the door to the couple’s room and found Grant working at his desk. “Where’s asshole?”
Grant didn’t bother turning around, he just pointed down the hall to the guest room and continued to go over his office memos.
Severus was sprawled over the bed, sideways. His long hair hung over the side of the bed, his jeans unbuttoned and opened, cock hanging out. A pale hand came up from the side of the bed and waved his wand in the general direction of the window. “Obscurio!”
The light was immediately blocked out only for a moment before once again he was speared in the face by the door banging back on it’s hinges and light once more flooded the room. He raised his wand once more and aimed towards the light. “Speak softly and I might spare your miserable life.”
“You have any hang over potion?” Max asked as he came in the room and picked up one of the other man’s bags and started to look through it. “Hell, I’ll take Draught of Living Death right now, it has to be better than this,” he muttered as he dropped that bag and picked up another. “Dude, put that fucking thing away, you scare me.”
Severus aimed his wand at the direction Max’s voice was coming from. He muttered a low level curse. A stinging hex came across the room and zapped Max right on the ass. “Get the fuck out of my bags and I might give you a potion.” He patted down his front and grabbed his cock. He waved it at Max. “You’re just jealous.”
His hand dropped the soft flesh and he waved his wand again. “Accio wet flannel.” A blue cloth came flying down the hall and Severus dropped his wand to catch the damp cloth. “By the way there is no hangover potion.” He laid the flannel over his face.
Max looked at him in disbelief. “What the fuck do you mean there isn’t any? Aren’t you some fancy assed Potions Master?” he squinted and glared at the man on the bed. “You hexed me, you cocksucker!” he advanced on the bed and knocked Severus’ wand to the floor, where he kicked it under the bed. He had half a mind to kick the little bastard’s ass right there. No hang over potion.
The big red head stood and looked down at his buddy lying there with a cloth over his eyes and snorted. Nope, not going to be allowed. He drew back his fist, and stuck one knuckle out before he nailed the man in his upper thigh. “You don’t hex friends,” he muttered and stumbled out the door to find Grant and some Tylenol.
“Ow! You fucking blighter.” Severus grabbed his leg and rubbed his thigh. “Come back here you damn Yankee.” The bender from the night before wasn’t helping matters. He chucked the flannel against the wall and heaved his long frame to a sitting position and then tucked himself away. His thigh cramped again and he hissed. “Bloody hell.”
Severus decided to stand and walk it off. He made it upright and took one step before the ground came up to greet him. Knackered and out on the floor he groaned. The dark haired man felt under the bed and found his wand. “Damn it all.” He crawled to the loo and slammed the door.
After finishing his ablutions he opened the door and went in search of the arsehole that had seen fit to create such pain. “I am going to lay a hurt on you, you ugly bastard.”
Grant came out of the kitchen where he’d just left Max with a glass of juice, Tylenol, and a plate of toast, rounding the corner to find a livid Severus. “And just where do you think you are going?” he asked as he crossed his arms about his waist and waited for the answer. He had already been told how Severus had hexed the other man. Merlin knew that the days after coming home from Sturgis were usually busier than before they left and he didn’t need added crap.
Max pushed the swinging door open and smirked as he saw Grant giving Severus the hairy eye. Serves the little bastard right for running out of something so important.
Grant raked his eyes over the train wreck that stood before him and went by the name of Severus Snape. “I see that you are now up and about, you and Max can go unload the bikes and start the laundry. I have to go into town, Damon is resting and you will not disturb him.” Not giving his guest a chance to argue, he swept past him and back into the bedroom with the door shutting behind him.
Severus grinned wickedly. “Leviacorps!” Max was swept up in the air by his ankle. “You bleeding bastard.” He flicked his wand up and down and Max was smacked into the ceiling and dropped a few inches from the floor. Severus watched with a grin and then stopped his friends decent. “Revolvere!”
Round and round Max went. Severus dragged him to the front door. “Expelliarmus!” Max shot out the door and landed in a heap under the tree. “I lied about the potion you bastard.” He slammed the door and stomped back to his room.
Damon startled on the couch. “Quit slamming the goddamn doors.” He turned over and tried to go back to sleep.
Grant came out of the bedroom at the sound of the slamming doors and saw to his dismay, Max under his favourite tree vomiting up what looked to be everything he’d eaten in the past week. He didn’t even have to ask, he knew who was responsible. He stopped by the sofa and pressed a kiss to Damon’s forehead and cast a silencing charm over the man so as not to disturb him.
The submissive went into their bedroom for a moment before going down the hallway and walking into the guest room where he found Severus lying on the bed with a smug smile on his face. “What did I say about waking up Damon, and what did I ask to have done?” he asked as he crossed his arms and looked at the younger man.
“I didn’t wake him…” Severus grinned, “The door did and that was Max’s fault.” He stood and hugged the older man. “I’ll get right on that for you.”
Grant pushed Severus off of him and glared. “That isn’t going to get you out of trouble this time,” he growled and pulled the doubled belt out of his back pocket. He swung and caught the younger man good across his upper thighs once and walked out the door. “Do the damned laundry and no more making him puke in the yard, it makes the neighbours talk.”
Stunned Severus stood there for a moment rubbing his legs. He walked gingerly to the living room and found Damon on the couch. He cancelled the silencing spell. “Damon,” he whispered. “Grant was mean to me.”
Damon opened one blue eye. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Severus looked at the older man. “Laundry, Sir. Give up the jeans, old man.”
“Boy, you had better get your ass to wherever you are supposed to be and leave me the fuck alone.” He closed his eye and started to snore loudly hoping Severus would get the hint
Severus smirked. “Max is throwing up on the tree.”
Damon sat up. “Grant! Max’s is ill.” He stood up and went to the front door. “Stupid idiots.” He muttered as he looked out over the lawn.
Severus made his way into the kitchen and out the back door to watch the proceedings from behind the corner of the house.
Grant stomped out of the bedroom muttering about children and lobbying for the reinstatement for child abuse. “Honey, I know Max is sick. Severus did… something,” he sighed. He pushed past his husband and made his way out to the ill healer and began to question him.
“What did he do to you?” Grant asked as he stepped out of the way as Max vomited again. His nose wrinkled at the sour, foul stench of whiskey and stupidity. Unable to form sentences, Max began to pantomime what the other man had done to him. Grant shook his head and looked up to where his husband stood in stunned disbelief.
“Yes Damon, they are that stupid,” he called as he helped Max back into the house. “Where is the other one?”
Severus watched as Max and Grant went back into the house. He crept to the next corner and peered around only to meet Damon’s stomach.
“What the hell are you doing?” Damon asked.
Severus stood. “Unloading the cycles. I went out the kitchen door. Is there something you need?”
Damon frowned. “Get the shit in the house and quit fucking around.”
Severus saluted and goose-stepped away. Damon stared after him and shook his head. He went back into the house. “Where’s my razor strap?”
Grant didn’t say a word, merely got up and fetched it from the back of the bathroom door, bringing it back to give to his husband. “He’s full of himself today,” was all he muttered as he went to the cupboard and got down a stomach-calming potion for Max. “Don’t let him come back in until he’s empty.”
Severus slung Damon’s pack over his shoulder and grabbed Grant’s bag in the other hand. He stopped by his bike and pulled a third bag from his saddlebags. He headed for the porch as Damon came out swinging the strap in front of him. “Oh shit.”
The older man came down the stairs and Severus dropped all of the luggage and took off running.
Damon raised his wand. “Accio Severus!” The dark wizard stumbled and fell to the ground. The charm wasn’t strong enough to actually bring the twelve stone man his way but it definitely put a ball of lead in his ass.
Damon launched himself off the porch and ran towards Severus. Severus looked up and rolled to his knees. He stayed down like that until Damon arrived. The older man bent at the waist and huffed out a breath. “What the fuck are you doing now?”
Severus peered up at Damon. “Well I was doing what Grant asked me to… Sir.” He looked at the ground again. Damon shook his head. “Get your ass up and finish what he wanted you to do.”
Severus stood and skirted by Damon his backside aimed away from the angry man. Damon watched him go and let it slide. He followed at a more leisurely pace. He watched as the younger man bent and picked up the bags and Damon sneaked up on him.
Severus opened the door to the house as the strap caught the back of his thighs. “Ah!”
Max started to laugh as he watched the look on Severus’ face, feeling quite vindicated. Grant however stood at the door and looked at Damon. “Going soft, are we?” he snorted as he took the bags from Severus. “Stop hopping around, that didn’t hurt,” he snapped at the younger man.
Max stood up and joined Grant in the laundry room, taking the bags from the smaller man. “I’ll do these up Grant if you need to go do something else. You don’t have to worry; I won’t be fucking around like some people.”
Grant fixed the red head with a look before he left the small room. “I know better, but just get it done.” He stopped to kiss his husband before he left, ignoring the still whinging Severus. The older couple walked out of the room together and Max took the opportunity to stick his head out of the laundry room door.
“Hey… pussy!” he hissed and then laughed as his friend glared at him.
Severus scowled at him and rubbed the back of his legs. Damon stuck his head back in the kitchen and flung the strap again against the other man, catching his hands in the process as well.
He drove the other man into the laundry room with the strap following him all the way. “Max, get out of the way. Sort that damn laundry, Severus and don’t give me no more trouble.” Damon turned to the big red head.
“Max, I know you have a home and I suggest you get ready to find it. Unless you would like me to drive your ass out as well.” He snapped the strap in between his hands and slapped it over his shoulder.
Max raised an eyebrow and quickly ducked out the back door. He had more sense than to stick around when Damon was in a mood. He did almost feel bad for Sev, but the little turd had hexed him after all. He swung a leg over his bike and turned the key as he heard the dulcet tones of Damon’s drill sergeant impression over the rumble of his bike. Yeah, he’d check on Sev tomorrow… or the next day.
Damon left the Potions Master down in the laundry room and went upstairs to the bedroom. “Soft eh?” He asked his sub and raised an eyebrow.
Grant snorted as he bent down to tie his shoe. “That boy needs to have the wind knocked out of his sails. He could have hurt Max, whether he was playing or not,” he replied as he slipped his foot into his other shoe and bent to tie it. “You know as well as I do, he’s run wild for over a week and he is plumb out of control now.”
He held his arms out to his husband of so many years and laid his cheek against his chest. “I have to run into the office for a little while, do you want me to pick up anything on my way home?” he asked as he felt the older man’s lips against his skin. “Damon, please make sure he doesn’t try to hex my washing machine again,” he asked as he pulled away and picked up the files he was taking with him.
Damon swung the strap lightly and smacked Grant on the butt cheeks. “Can we have steaks for dinner?” He smiled at his sub and waited for an answer. “Oh and I drove Severus’ ass to the laundry room and he is sorting the clothes. I’ll make sure they are started correctly and have a talk with him.”
The shorter man wiggled his ass at his husband and smiled. “I’ll pick up steaks and salad for dinner,” he said as he ran one hand over the other man’s face gently. “I’ll be home in a bit.” He headed out of the bedroom and stopped in the laundry room before he walked out the door. He looked at the quietly muttering man stuffing whites in the Maytag and reached out to touch his arm.
“Don’t forget to use a cup of bleach like I showed you, Sev,” he said as he turned to leave the house.
“Yes, sir Grant.” Severus uttered softly. He waited for the machine to fill and then poured in a cup of bleach. He closed the lid and ventured into the kitchen. He dug in the fridge and found nothing really worth cooking and he was getting hungry now. He closed the door and found Damon standing on the other side.
“Grant’s going to bring home steaks. Have you started the laundry?” Damon raised an eyebrow to the other man.
“Yes Sir and I put the bleach in as well,” he replied as he watched the other man warily. He was still trying to work out the change in events. Neither one of the men had ever struck him before… well the first twenty-four hours they’d known him shouldn’t count. “I’ll just go to m... the guest room until it’s time to switch the laundry,” the lanky younger man said as he started to go past the ex Marine.
Damon grabbed his arm. “Have a seat first. I want to talk to you.” He watched the other man sit gingerly on the kitchen chair. “Did I really hurt anything besides your pride?”
Severus didn’t say anything for a moment and then answered. “I’ll be fine.” He folded his hands in front of him and waited for the older man to begin to speak. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was wondering how long it would take him to have his things packed when Damon kicked him out. He looked straight ahead and focused on the braid of garlic that was hanging on the wall.
“Un huh. Well let me ask you this. Do you know why I did what I did?” Damon eyed him. “Take in consideration I heard some of what went on this morning before Grant cast the spell.”
One dark eye looked toward the older Dom. “Obviously I have displeased you and your husband with my actions,” he said without cheek or rancour. “I apologize for any behaviour that you found abhorrent.”
Damon shook his head. “Sev, you could have really hurt Max. I know you were playing but there is a time for that and this wasn’t it.” He sat down next to Sev at the table. “I appreciate and accept your apologies. Now quit acting like a kicked dog and buck up. Shall I do it again?”
Severus looked at the older man and smirked. “Grant hit me.”
Damon raised an eyebrow. “Really and did you deserve that swat as well?”
“I’m as pure as the driven snow,” he chuckled and pushed himself away from the table. “I’ll call Max later and apologize to him as well. I admit I let my sense of vengeance get the best of me earlier.”
Damon scooted away from the table as well. “I am waiting on the lightening just so you know.” He grinned at the other man. “You are a good man, Severus and it’s okay to kick back once in a while. Just remember that it can go too far. Not everyone can handle being teased like that.”
Severus nodded; he’d been counselled in much the same vein by the Headmaster in regards to his students. He did take things too far at times and failed to show what others seemed to feel was proper remorse. Unlike the Headmaster though, Severus thought he’d actually pay some attention to what Damon was saying. The older Dom had yet to treat the younger man as if he owed him some great debt that could only be counted paid with his soul.
“Thank you and I shall keep your words in mind, Damon. If you don’t mind, I will lie down for a short time,” he said as he stood and gave a short bow to the other man.
Damon nodded. “Would you like me to put a salve on you?” he watched Severus for a minute unsure if the man would accept the bit of comfort he was offering after the reprimand.
Severus looked unsure for a moment before he nodded. “Yes please. Where would it be the easiest for you?” he asked as he clenched one hand nervously and waited for the answer. He could not believe the words just came out of his mouth.
“We can do this in the room. All you have to do is drop your drawers. Go to sleep if you wish. I‘ll change the first load for you.” Damon stood “Did you want to eat as well or wait on Grant to return; he probably won’t be back until later though.”
Severus shook his head. “There’s nothing to eat, I looked. I’ll be fine until supper.” He left the kitchen and went to the guest room he’d stayed in all summer, dropping his jeans and standing clad in his smalls as Damon came in the room. “If you don’t mind, I’d like a bit of the salve for this as well,” he said as he raised back up from where he had been inspecting the large purplish black bruise on his upper thigh. While he waited for Damon to answer him, he crawled onto the bed and laid face down. He knew he bruised easily, it was a vitamin deficiency, he just hoped Damon didn’t think much of it. He looked over his shoulder at the Dom. “It looks worse then it feels, honestly.”
Damon frowned. “What happened? Did the strap wrap around? Roll over and let me look at it.” Damon sat on the edge of the bed. “You have a specific salve you want me to use or the one I have?”
The younger man rolled over with a sigh. “No, that’s where Max hit me earlier. The salve you use will work just fine.” He put his arms under his head and made himself comfortable as possible as he waited for the cold salve.
Damon growled. “Why didn’t you idiots tell me he started it? I‘d have went after his ass as well.” He summoned the bruise salve and tipped some out into his hand. He emulsified it and carefully applied it to Severus’ thigh. He gently rubbed in the ointment and then patted the other leg. “Alright, flip over.”
Severus rolled over onto his stomach gingerly. "It didn't really matter who started it Damon, fact of the matter is, I went too far in what I did to Max," he sighed as he wriggled a bit to get comfortable, tucking the pillow under his head and closing his eyes. "I am sorry we woke you up, though."
Damon grunted. "Max has a bad habit of starting something harmless and making it escalate as well. So I am certain it was not entirely all your fault. I'll talk to Grant as well." Damon straddled Severus’ long legs on the bed and looked at the red stripes and newly forming bruises across the man's thighs. "Merlin, Sev. You always bruise like this?" He tipped out more salve into his hands and warmed it before laying his hands on Severus' legs.
The younger man tensed as he felt the weight settle on his legs, effectively pinning him down. Fighting down the urge to fight his way free, he forced himself to lie still under the other man. "Yes, I'm afraid I tend to bruise easily. I have a vitamin deficiency and the potion supplement doesn't set well on my stomach," he replied as he flinched in spite of himself as Damon touched him firmly. He sucked his breath in and held it until he felt he had some grasp on his reactions.
Damon felt the flinches as he massaged the cream into the pale skin. "Does it hurt?" He lightened his touch. "You should work on the vitamin potion, Sev. I know for a fact that your wares are top notch."
"It is...tolerable," Severus murmured as he felt the heat from the salve begin to penetrate his muscles. "I've adjusted the formula several times; apparently it is a personal anomaly, not something due to the integrity of the potion itself." He sighed as he started to relax a bit and the fact he was still tired from the night before was beginning to take its toll on the dark haired wizard. "How mad is Grant? Shall I go ahead and pack my things to leave this evening?"
Damon snorted. "What did he do to you? He wasn't yelling so I don't think you have to evacuate the premises. You needn't leave unless you are ready, Sev. You are welcome here; we told you that." He slid his hands up under the smalls to get at Sev's bottom where he had directed most of his strikes. "As for the potion have you tried taking the Muggle equivalent of it? In the pill form maybe? You should talk to Max about it. He's done wonders for Grant."
Severus chuckled. "He let me have it with a belt." His snapped open as he felt Damon's hands move under his underpants, he turned his head and buried his face in the pillow as he held his breath. Too many memories. He could hear Damon talking and he shook his head no, he'd not tried a Muggle remedy. Damon's hands moved over his skin and he wanted to crawl into a hole and die, he knew the older man wouldn't hurt him, but there were just too many memories.
“He did what?” Damon looked down at Severus. "Are you alright, Sev?" He slowly drew his hands off the other man. "Sev? Answer me, son. Have you tried Muggle vitamins?"
"No, no I've not tried Muggle vitamins," he answered softly as he turned his head and stared at the wall once more. "Grant swatted me with a belt. It's not a big deal, just came as a shock." His breathing returned to something more normal as Damon moved his hands; he was not very pleased with himself by reacting as he had. "I'm fine Damon, no worries, yeah?"
Damon frowned. "Well, if I had known that and you still acted like an ass then I would have gotten you better." He chuckled. "You want me to finish putting on this salve?" He asked worriedly. "I'll not hurt you, you understand this right?" Damon reached up and stroked the man's hair.
Before he could stop himself, Severus jerked away from the gentle touch. Forcing himself to lie still, he swallowed and nodded. "You may finish if you wish."
Damon got off of the other man and sat on the edge of the bed. "Sit up, Severus. We need to have a talk."
The younger man drew his long legs up and gingerly rolled up into a sitting position, settling his feet on the floor, and pulling the pillow into his lap, unconsciously hugging it to himself. "Yes?"
Damon reached over and grabbed the other man's chin. "You do know that I would never hurt you right? Grant wouldn't either." He met the dark eyes and smiled at the younger man.
Severus smiled back weakly and nodded. "Just old memories that have no business resurfacing, Damon, that's all."
Damon nodded. "I understand. You want to talk to Grant about it?" Damon looked down and then back at Severus. He let go of the man's chin and stroked his hair again. "He helped me a lot a long time ago."
"Talking won't help Damon, but thank you, I just need to remember what's past is past," he said softly as he moved the pillow back to the bed and scooted himself back a little more. He sat still and allowed the contact without flinching this time. "Grant's a good man, he doesn't need...this." He stifled a yawn with his hand and looked apologetically to the old Dom. "It seems my night and lack of rest has caught up with me, I'm afraid. If you would excuse me, I think I will try to rest for a short while." He pulled his feet back up on the bed and yawned again. He really didn't need the older man prying into memories of his father.
Damon chuckled. "Sev, whatever it is that you have gone through it can't be as bad as what I have done to Grant and I promise you he can handle it. I am not trying to make light of your problems either." He stroked the dark hair again and nodded. "I'll let you rest. But I want you to think about it. It really does help." On impulse Damon bent and kissed the top of Severus' head, patted him on the bottom and walked out of the room. He closed the door softly and made his way back into the kitchen.
Severus picked up his wand and quickly cast a spell to darken the room and then lay back on the bed with his eyes shut, trying to will himself to sleep. No, his problems weren't that bad, he told himself repeatedly as he drifted into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning, struggling with his memories as they surfaced.
He woke several hours later as he heard the kitchen door open and close and Grant laughing in the other room. He sat up on the edge of the bed and shook his head, trying to banish the cobwebs and nightmares before he went out to join the others. He rummaged through one of the dresser drawers and came up with a pair of the baggy shorts Grant had insisted he purchase for the summer heat. Now he was just glad they weren't chafing against his still tender bottom and thighs.
He opened the bedroom door and made his way into the kitchen rubbing his eyes and running a hand through his shoulder length hair.
Damon held Grant in his arms and tickled the younger man. "Think you can get away with a stunt like that now do you?" He picked up the other man and tossed him over his shoulder and turned just as Sev opened the swinging door. "Evening, sleepy head." He set Grant on his feet.
Severus' eyes widened as he watched the couple laughing, he smiled and sat down at the table. "You should have woken me earlier, I'll never sleep tonight," he said with a yawn and watched as Grant looked in the laundry room.
The small man turned and fixed Severus with a glare. "What happened to doing the laundry like I asked?" He asked with a sigh as he opened the dryer and transferred the load of whites to it and then put a load of blue jeans into the washer. "I don't ask for much, do I? Do I need to take the belt to you again, Severus?
Damon grabbed Grant's arm. "No, Grant don't. That's my fault I was going to change it and I forgot. I got distracted."
"You obviously needed the sleep, boy and don't give me no back talk on it." Damon told Severus.
Grant looked at his husband in surprise. If Damon had told Severus he'd do it, then he really couldn't say anything to the boy, the husband however... "Then should I assume you are cooking supper, Sir?" he grinned as he started the washing machine and joined Severus at the table. "I'll have my steak rare, please."
Severus reached out and patted the older submissive's hand and gave him a smile. "I think fresh pie would be nice for afters, don't you?"
Grant's eyes lit up and he looked to his husband. "Oh, I think chocolate pie sounds wonderful. Better hop to Sir, we're mighty hungry here," he laughed and waited to see if Damon would rise to the bait. Damn, it was good to be home.
Damon eyed the two men at the table. He tossed a lighter to Grant. "Go start the grill for me and I'll do the steaks." He raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to attempt a pie, Injun?" He turned and set out the salad stuff. He pulled the ears of corn from the market sack and began shucking then. He grinned as he started another ear. "I'll try it if you really want me too. Could be fun."
Damon turned back to them. "Hell, get me a cookbook Sev, you can help."
Grant bit his tongue and kept from offering to make the dessert. He took the lighter and started to walk out of the kitchen. "I'm not cleaning up the kitchen tonight, if you make a mess, you will be cleaning it up," he said as he stopped beside his husband and pressed a kiss to the man's shoulder. "Thank you for cooking tonight, I'm tired." He smiled and headed outside to start the grill and then take a nap on one of the chaises in the back yard.
Severus looked up at Damon and shook his head as he got to his feet and found one of Grant's cookbooks. Merlin, the man had to have hundreds of them, what a thing to collect. He joined the older man at the counter and set the book down. "You know we're buggered if it isn't as good as one of his, yeah?" He picked up an ear of corn and began to help Damon shuck the green husks.
"I know, but that's ok cause we really aren't making one. There's one in the freezer I saw it earlier. Go get it." Damon chuckled. "I can handle the rest of this stuff though. Want to scrub the potatoes while I finish up these ears and put the steaks in a marinade? I think we can do baked potatoes as well."
Severus grinned and ran down the basement steps to pull out the pie Damon had mentioned. He looked at it and made a face as he carried it back up stairs. "Erm...Damon, I think we're buggered. Grant said he wanted chocolate. This one is labelled pumpkin and it was the only pie in there," he said as he sat the frozen dessert on the counter and chewed his lip while he watched Damon. On a hunch, he opened the freezer section of the refrigerator. No pies. "Truly buggered."
Damon's face fell. "Are you certain?" Severus only nodded his head and pointed at the pumpkin pie.
Damon shook his head. "Damn. That was the only reason I agree to making the damn thing." He turned back to the book on the counter and flipped through the pages. He read through the ingredients and then began to dig in the cabinets. He found all the supplies needed. He growled. "We have to make something disappear so we can't screw this up and he will have to settle for the pumpkin pie." He eyed the groceries trying to decide which thing would most likely be the easiest thing to get rid of. "There ain't no way in hell I can make a fucking pie from scratch."
Severus thought for a moment and looked once more at the amount of food Grant had purchased, it was obvious the smaller man had intended for Max to be eating with them. "I have an idea, hold on and don't destroy anything yet," he said as he reached over and picked up the portable telephone from its cradle and hit the number to speed dial Max.
"Hey Max, it's me," he said as soon as the red head had picked up the phone. "What are you eating for supper? Some of that frozen garbage?" He rolled his eyes and looked at Damon, smirking. "Damon wants you to come over for supper, he's grilling steak."
He listened for a few more minutes. "Yes, I know, I am an arsehole and I'm sorry. So are you coming over?" He rolled his eyes and waited. "Good, stop at the market and pick up a chocolate pie, something Grant would really like, okay?" He gave Damon a thumb's up and then hung up the phone.
"He's picking up a pie for afters, we're saved," he laughed as he washed his hands and turned back to help the older man once more.
Damon burst into laughter. "You know he's going to notice Max bringing the pie don't you? We'll catch hell for that but at least he won't be going to the emergency room. Last time I tried to make a crème pie I nearly poisoned his ass. I'm surprised he even suggested it." Damon seasoned the ears with spices and butter then wrapped them in tinfoil. He set the corn to the side and then set to mixing up the marinade.
Severus shrugged. "Had to do something. I like pumpkin pie, but I've been spoiled here and I want Cool Whip on it now and there wasn't any in the freezer," he grinned. He picked up the cornhusks and moved to throw them in the trash when he caught sight of Grant in the back yard. "Damon is Grant alright?" he asked as he nodded to the small man curled up on one of the chaises, looking older than Severus had seen him look all summer.
Damon eyed his sub out in the lawn chair and frowned. "He looks well but is probably really tired from the trip. You can go check on him if you wish. Go put the potatoes out on the grill while you are out there."
Damon put the meat in the sauce and shook the container after he put the lid on it. He stashed it in the fridge. "Come on we'll go together, you got me worried now."
Severus picked up the foil wrapped potatoes and followed Damon out the back door, stopping to set the vegetables on the grill as he went past.
Grant lie curled up on his side, his eyes closed and one hand tucked under his cheek, his breathing deep and regular as he slumbered in the shade cast by the big elm in the late afternoon sunshine. He shifted and sighed as Damon gently patted his arm; he opened one dark eye and looked up into worried blue ones. "Ungh."
Damon knelt beside the chair. "You okay, Injun? You scared Sev." He leaned forward and kissed Grant's forehead. He picked up the braid and tugged on it gently, then stroked the soft hair.
"Was just napping," he yawned and reached up to tug on the greying blond hair, giving his husband a smile. "I'm alright. Did you realize there isn't a chocolate pie in the freezer yet?" He chuckled and reached out to give Severus' hand a squeeze. "I'm sorry if I scared you, I'm just so tired."
Severus smiled down at the older man and squeezed his hand back gently. He lifted his head as he heard the sound of Max's truck coming up their driveway. "I'll go see to Max, you two just relax," he said as he headed around the house and met Max as he was getting out of the truck.
Damon grinned down at his sub. "I ought to beat you for that, but you would enjoy it too much. But have no fear you'll get your chocolate pie, Sev and I took care of it."
Max eyed Severus as he got out of the truck. He held the pie close to himself. "You in a better mood now?"
Severus stopped and nodded where he stood. "I'm sorry Max, I really am," he said and extended his hand. "Now pass over the pie and Grant won't self destruct for lack of chocolate." He laughed as Max took his hand and pulled him into a one armed hug. "I shouldn't have done that to you, man, I wasn't thinking," he murmured as Max turned him loose and they walked into the house.
Max sighed. "I suppose I shouldn't have dug in your bags either." He slugged the other man. "So is Damon really cooking? I brought my bag just in case."
"He's cooking, but Grant's awake now, so I think we're safe, yeah." He opened the bag and peered down at the pie. "That looks brill. You know I think we should just take this and they never need to know it made it here," he grinned and looked up at the back door where he found Grant standing with his arms folded across his chest.
"Put it in the refrigerator and leave it alone Sev, you don't get dessert until you finish your supper," Grant said smirking and then looked at Max. "The same goes for you, young man. Now both of you get some plates and set the table out here." With that, the small man turned and rejoined his husband in the yard and got comfortable on his chair once more.
Damon grinned sheepishly as Grant returned. "I suppose you saw my solution to the chocolate pie problem." He took the tongs off the grill handle and squeezed the potatoes. "Sev, bring me the rest of the vegetables and the steaks." He shouted to the house.
"Max, come on out here as well. Bring Grant and I some tea." Damon turned to his sub. "I have to teach another lesson and I want you to keep your mouth shut." He told his sub.
Grant looked up at his husband and nodded, "Yes Damon, but have one of them bring me some tea please," he asked as he smiled and watched Severus bring everything out and set it on the small table by the grill.
"Did you want me to put the bread in the oven?" Severus asked as he wiped his wet hands on the seat of his shorts and peered down at the grill.
"Max should be on his way out here with some." Damon bent and kissed Grant on the forehead. He turned to the Potions Master.
"Severus, go get me a switch off the elm and don't let Max see you. I'll grill the bread out here."
Severus quirked a brow at Damon, but did as he was told, first looking to be certain Max wasn't in the kitchen. He handed a three-foot long, limber switch to Damon. He looked at the man warily and then sat down on one of the benches by the picnic table. He had no idea what the old Dom was up to, but he didn't want to be on the receiving end of the switch.
Grant looked at his husband curiously. "What are you doing?"
Damon sniffed. "Max helped start that little ruckus earlier and he needs his reprimand as well. Sev got his and now it's Max's turn. Why isn't that little bastard out here?”
Damon turned to the house. "Maxwell Sorens, get your ass out here and bring the damn tea." He shouted at the other man.
"I'm coming old man, keep your damned shorts on," Max hollered back as he pushed the back door open and brought out a stack of plastic glasses and a pitcher of iced tea. "I was bringing tea for everyone. Now what did you want?" He set everything on the picnic table and poured Grant a glass of tea, handing it to him before he poured one for Damon.
Severus reached over and poured himself a glass and watched Damon, almost wondering if he shouldn't ask Damon not to bother with it, it wasn't that big of a deal.
Damon eyed Max. "Excuse me, boy? What was that you said?"
He turned to Severus. "Thank you for bringing that other stuff I forgot earlier." He patted the other man's shoulder reassuringly.
"I said I was getting tea for everyone," the burly red head said as he sat down and got comfortable with his own glass of tea. "You aren't going to poison us all tonight, are you, Damon?"
Severus looked at Damon. "Not a problem Damon, nothing's a problem, okay? Everything is okay," he said cutting his eyes towards the other man.
Damon nodded. "No, just you Max." He carefully laid the steaks out on the grill. "Sev, Max how do you want yours done?" He then turned the potatoes and added the corn to the upper rack. "Max, go get the bread."
Damon turned to Severus. "Calm down boy. I know what I am doing." He waited until the red head had retreated into the house, before speaking.
"Grant, did you know Max frogged Severus and that's why Sev took the wand to his ass?" He turned the steaks as if nothing was wrong and he was reporting the weather.
Max grumbled and walked back into the house. "Got to hit the bathroom anyway," he said as he shut the kitchen door after him.
Grant's mouth dropped open and he looked at Severus in astonishment. "Why didn't you say anything? Where did he hit you?" he demanded as he motioned the younger man to come to him. He looked up at his husband. "I didn't know Max had hit him, dammit."
Severus rolled his eyes and moved closer to Grant. He pulled up his shorts leg. He knew better than to not let Grant see it even though Damon had already treated it. "It wasn't that big of a matter. I got him anyway and Damon already put a salve on it." He sighed.
Damon nodded. "I didn't either until I had already sent him on his way. Now he needs his lesson. Sev, I'm not going to hurt him anymore than I did you but he needs to learn this lesson as well."
The dark haired man nodded and looked down at Grant.
Grant pursed his lips and looked down at the angry looking bruise, he knew from personal experience that if Damon had already put salve on it and it had healed somewhat, that the big man had really hurt Severus.
He looked at Damon and held his hand out. "Give me that switch Sir," he said solemnly, he was not amused that Severus had been hit and Max had played the innocent. "Sev, you sit down here and stay off of that leg, I'll put more salve on it after we eat."
Damon grinned. He passed the switch. "Pass me a plate if you would Sev, Grant's steak is done and how do you want yours?"
"Grant, it looks worse than it is. It doesn't hurt any longer. Medium well, Damon please." Sev handed a plate to the other man.
Grant stood up and stalked into the house, a determined look on his face. He found Max coming out of the bathroom and blocked the hallway. "Drop your jeans and grab the wall Max," Grant said softly as he looked at the younger man. "You hurt Severus and let me believe you'd done nothing to him." He smacked the switch into his palm and waited to see what the burly Dom would do.
Outside, Severus looked at Damon. "He's not going to stripe him, is he?" he asked worriedly. "Max wouldn't do anything stupid, would he?" He strained to hear any sounds coming from within the house, but all he heard was the low music from Grant's kitchen radio.
Damon grinned again. "You think Max will do something to Grant?" He turned the steaks and pulled his and Severus' off the grill. He added a potato to each plate. Damon looked to the house. "Corn will be ready in a few minutes. Wonder what's taking Grant so long." He turned the ears.
Max stared at the smaller man. He placed his hands on his hips. "You have got to be joking me? That bastard hexed me first."
Grant fixed him with a steely glare. "I saw the bruise on his leg Max, you conveniently forgot to mention that to me. Now I said drop your pants and grab the wall."
Severus looked at Damon. "Grant will be alright, then?" he asked, in his heart, he knew the big man was harmless, but he was still nervous.
Damon nodded. "Yes and I think Max knows better than to piss off Grant cause then I will be after his ass." He turned the corncobs again and looked at the house. "I wish they would hurry up. I want to get Grant to bed early tonight. Once the practice figures out he's back they won't let him rest.”
Max continued to star at Grant. "Look Grant, he got me first and I retaliated. He got me back it's over and done with."
Grant looked at Max. "I'm serious Max. Sev took licks from me in defense of you when you hadn't been honest with me. Have you seen his thigh?"
Max huffed. "No and my little frog couldn't have done that much damage." He crossed his arms over his chest and puffed up. "He shook me around like a rag doll and I sicked up all over the place."
Grant stepped forward and grabbed the man by the waistband, yanking him forward. "Drop them Max, or I will get my wand. Sev's thigh is black from that, you hit harder than you think you do."
Max gasped and nodded. He turned around and held onto the wall but refused to drop his jeans. "Get it over with Grant. I'll look at him when we're finished."
Grant wasn't going to argue, he'd take what he could get. He hauled off and switched Max hard enough that if it had been bare skin, he'd have drawn blood. Once he'd laid half a dozen stripes, he laid his hand on Max's back. "Okay, let's go have our supper," he said as he stepped into the bathroom and washed the tears from his eyes. He hated getting after the boys.
Max waited on Grant to come out of the bathroom. His ass stung something fierce but he knew he had disappointed the older man. As Grant came out of the bathroom Max enveloped him in a bear hug. "I'm sorry Grant. You okay, sir?"
Grant hugged him back and leaned up to kiss him on his cheek. "I'm alright, just don't be hitting each other for awhile. My old nerves are shot," he laughed quietly and led the way back outside where he found Damon had everything held under a warming spell.
The older submissive wrapped his arms around his husband's waist and pressed into him for a moment before he sat down on the bench and Sev passed him his plate.
Severus looked up at his friend, giving him a grin as he handed him his plate. "Damon, the pie Max brought looks fabulous, I don't think Grant will let you have any on your diet," he laughed.
Damon growled. "Oh yes he will." He sat down next to his husband then pulled the man into his lab. "Let me take care of you for a while, Pet. It's been a long day for all of us." He caressed the sub's cheek then nuzzled his neck.
Damon looked around the table. "Where's my switch? Max, you forgot the damn bread."
Max got to his feet and went muttering into the house about bread and senile old men. He came back out and set the bread on the table and aimed his wand at it, within seconds it was steaming. "There you go, Sir."
Damon chuckled. "Thank you. Eat up it's been under the warming spell for long enough." He cut a strip of Grant's steak and held it out to him. "How'd I do, Pet?"
Grant took the bite and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. "It's wonderful Damon, I think you should do the cooking from now on," he chuckled as he took the next bite that was offered to him.
Max and Severus sat next to each other, and like a couple of brothers, one would jostle the other, as he'd try to drink. Soon both were elbowing and swatting at each other. Grant just looked at them and shook his head.